JHendu's 115 tall
- Thread starter jhendu
- Start date
jhendu
Premium Member
Tomorrow will be the 1 week mark and so far so good. No algae issues, water seems great and nothing has died so that's good. My durso did decide to start "flushing" a few times but it corrected itself and is fine right now. Still trying to get the skimmer dialed in but I think that I'm close on it. Currently evaporating a gallon or 2 a day it seems. With everything running in this configuration I'm able to see the evap better than I ever did with the last tank. Here's a few new pics. I just picked up the green brain at Rob's yesterday. I needed something down low in the tank with some good color.
jhendu
Premium Member
The Koran has only nipped a couple of times at the new brain. Other than that I ahven't seen him go after anything else. I failed to do my homework on him prior to the purchase, I was to captivated by its beauty. I know that I will probably have to get rid of him as he gets bigger
. Anyone want to buy him???? or trade????
. Anyone want to buy him???? or trade????
McCrary
Can't Stop Time
Yea, I have tried to keep angels in my reef, but have always had to get rid of them with the exception of the regal angel. But those can be touchy and are hard to get eating. Hopefully yours will learn not to eat your coral and you can let him get big before you are forced to get rid of him.
jhendu
Premium Member
Last nights test results
Last nights test results
Well the results from last nights water test are in......
KH=179ppm
Nitrate=10
Phosphate=0
Calc=380
SG= 1.022
PH= 7.8-8 using a dip strip
Clearly not perfect. All the top 4 tests were done using an API Reef Master Test Kit. So far the main tank is looking good but I am getting some brown stuff growing on the sand in the fuge. Doesn't look like my chaeto is growing either but I may look at it to often to notice. I think that I'll do a 10%-20% water change this weekend and see if that helps the nitrates come down a bit. I'm also going to be more strict with my calcium supps to get that number up into the high 400s. The one negative thing in the main tank is that the new brain is not looking so hot. It is mostly retracted right now and I'm praying that it's jsut a bit stressed and that it will turn around soon.
Last nights test results
Well the results from last nights water test are in......
KH=179ppm
Nitrate=10
Phosphate=0
Calc=380
SG= 1.022
PH= 7.8-8 using a dip strip
Clearly not perfect. All the top 4 tests were done using an API Reef Master Test Kit. So far the main tank is looking good but I am getting some brown stuff growing on the sand in the fuge. Doesn't look like my chaeto is growing either but I may look at it to often to notice. I think that I'll do a 10%-20% water change this weekend and see if that helps the nitrates come down a bit. I'm also going to be more strict with my calcium supps to get that number up into the high 400s. The one negative thing in the main tank is that the new brain is not looking so hot. It is mostly retracted right now and I'm praying that it's jsut a bit stressed and that it will turn around soon.
jhendu
Premium Member
As soon as I finished hitting send on the last post, there was a knock upon the door. It was my friendly neghborhood mailperson with my box of new coral frags under her arm. The frags look pretty good considering they were jsut shipped overnight. They were packed well and the only cause for concern was the hitch hiking bristle worm in one of the frags. I fresh water dipped them all to make sure there were'nt any other undesirables and they are drip acclimating right now. The green apple is in two pieces so Matt, the smaller one is available whenever you want or we can wait and let it grow out a little bit. It's kind of small (about 3/4 in X 1/2 in) LMK.
cerreta
Premium Member
Very nice looking corals.
Looks like Vince's coral cradles were used on some of teh frags
What is the KH value in dKH?
The relationtion between Alkalinity and Calcium are opposites. So if you are dosing calcium supplements without adding a buffer then you will see a large drop in alkalinity. You need to dose both parts to create a stable balance and raise the levels.
Looks like Vince's coral cradles were used on some of teh frags
What is the KH value in dKH?
The relationtion between Alkalinity and Calcium are opposites. So if you are dosing calcium supplements without adding a buffer then you will see a large drop in alkalinity. You need to dose both parts to create a stable balance and raise the levels.
McCrary
Can't Stop Time
Get used to testing your alkalinity and calcium regularly because you are going to use a good amount of both with SPS and a tank that large. You want to consider just dipping them in lugols and putting them in your display. Ask Scott what your technique for that should be. Your next investment may be a calcium reactor as it can get to be a pain keeping alkalinity and calcium steady when you have a tank that uses a lot of both. I know Scott has to dose twice a day on his nano.
cerreta
Premium Member
I'm down to 6 squirts of each part once a day :thumbsup:
The nano has fluctuations becuase the corals are pigs and the tank is so small.
Jason, your tank should be more stable, but you will have to find the correct dosing methods. Do not trust the label recomendations. You will need to use a chem calulator and determine your own consumption rates. Once done, the calculator will tell you how much of the 2 Part supplement to dose in order to maintain levels. Of course, this requires that you get your levels up to the desired numbers first.
Here is the calculator I like to use.
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html
The nano has fluctuations becuase the corals are pigs and the tank is so small.
Jason, your tank should be more stable, but you will have to find the correct dosing methods. Do not trust the label recomendations. You will need to use a chem calulator and determine your own consumption rates. Once done, the calculator will tell you how much of the 2 Part supplement to dose in order to maintain levels. Of course, this requires that you get your levels up to the desired numbers first.
Here is the calculator I like to use.
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chemcalc.html
jhendu
Premium Member
Thanks for the link. I didn't even know anyhthing like that existed. The reactor will have to remain on the back burner. In addition to the expenses of the new tank set up, our 57in rear projection Sony TV died so we had to replace it with a 58in plasma. I'll need to pay for that for a bit before I can invest in a reactor.
McCrary
Can't Stop Time
Wow, that sounds like an awesome TV, probably more fun than a calcium reactor. If you need calcium and alkalinity on the cheap nothing beats dripping kalkwasser. Its pretty much the same concept as a calcium reactor, which is just to keep the alkalinity and calcium steady by using a calcium drip.
McCrary
Can't Stop Time
It has to be carefully monitored and controlled. If you dump in too much at once then you are going to RTN your SPS. It is very economical and there are many gorgeous tanks that use Kalk as their supplement. If you have more questions just post in the reef discussion section and see if that helps.
